The AndersonPonty Band, a new act featuring progressive music pioneers Jon Anderson (former progressive rock-era Yes vocalist) and jazz-rock fusion violin maestro Jean Luc Ponty, have announced the release of their debut CD/DVD titled “Better Late Than Never.” The album is scheduled for release in the early Fall of 2015.
“Better Late Than Never” contains pieces from a live performance, enhanced with innovative production. The set includes a bonus DVD including performances by The AndersonPonty Band videotaped in September 2014 at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado.
The AndersonPonty Band has created new musical compositions as well as rearrangements of classic Yes hits like “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”, “Roundabout” and “Wonderous Stories”, as well as some of Jean Luc Ponty’s most memorable compositions, including “Infinite Mirage” a new song incorporating Jean Luc’s classic piece “Mirage”.
Yes’ original singer-songwriter for 35 years, Jon Anderson has had a successful solo career that includes working with such notable music artists as Vangelis, Kitaro, and Milton Nascimento. Jean Luc Ponty is an electric violin pioneer and undisputed maestro of his instrument in the area of jazz and rock. “A breakthrough feeling came as I sang with Jean Luc’s music, to be in a band again is very exciting on many levels, we will play and sing our way around the world and have fun, for music is pleasure, music is all that is,” says Jon Anderson
“Collaborating with Jon who is such a creative singer/songwriter is unlike any project I have done before. I knew that we had plenty of musical affinities to make it work, but the result is way beyond my expectations,” says Jean Luc Ponty. “It is also a lot of fun to reunite with these excellent musicians who played with me in the past, they really put their heart in this project and with Jon’s creative input we are not just rehashing the past but giving a new life to the music we started developing decades ago.”
The AndersonPonty Band also includes Jamie Glaser on guitars, a well-known guitarist who has worked with Jean Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Bryan Adams and Lenny White; Wally Minko on keyboards, a skilled player and composer who has performed and recorded with many worldwide stars including Pink, Toni Braxton, Jean Luc Ponty, Tom Jones, Gregg Rolie and Barry Manilow; Baron Browne on bass, who has performed with Steve Smith, Billy Cobham and Jean Luc Ponty; and Rayford Griffin on drums and percussion, who has played with Stanley Clarke Band, George Duke, Jean Luc Ponty and Michael Jackson.
Jean Luc Ponty was originally approached by Jon Anderson with the idea of working together as far back as the 1980s. Now 30 years later the dream has finally come to fruition. In support of the new release, a world tour is currently in preparation. Also, a videography documenting the making of the “Better Late Than Never” album will be released together with videos and performances.
AndersonPonty Band tour dates:
October
October 27 – Philadelphia – Keswick Theater
October 29 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie
October 30 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
November
November 1 – Pittsburgh – Carnegie Theater
November 3 – Chicago – Arcada Theater
November 4 – Milwaukee – Milwaukee PAC
November 6 – Detroit – Detroit Music Hall
November 7 – Toronto – Danforth Music Hall
November 10 – Washington, DC – Howard Theater
November 11 – Long Island – Paramount Theater
November 13 – NYC – Ethical Culture
November 14 – Boston – Berklee Performance Center
November 17 – San Francisco – Regency
November 18 – Sacramento – Crest Theater
November 20 – Los Angeles – Saban Theater
November 21 – Scottsdale – Talking Stick
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